Genetic evaluation of production and reproduction traits in two selected lines of geese under multitrait animal model

Heritability of and genetic correlations among production and reproduction traits as well as genetic trends over eight years of selection were estimated in W11 (maternal) and W33 (paternal) lines of geese. Considered was body weight on week 8 (BW8) and week 11 (BW11), number of eggs produced (EP), egg weight (EW), percentage of fertility (PFE), and percentage of hatchability from eggs fertilized (PHC). Multitrait animal model was applied. Moderate to high heritability estimates were obtained for BW8, BW11 and EP in both lines while lower for PFE and PHC. Highest genetic correlations were estimated between PFE and PHC and between the body weight traits. No clear genetic trends for any trait were identified. Generally, unfavourable relationships between productive and reproductive traits have been confirmed.